St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, whose feast is kept "In Some Places and Congregations" on October 30th, was a lay Jesuit brother. The following is taken from Catholic Online:

He was born in Segovia, Spain, on July 25, 1532, the son of a wealthy merchant, and was prepared for First Communion by Blessed Peter Favre, a friend of Alphonsus' father. While studying with the Jesuits at Alcala, Alphonsus had to return home when his father died. In Segovia he took over the family business, was married, and had a son. That son died, as did two other children and then his wife.

Alphonsus sold his business and applied to the Jesuits. His lack of education and his poor health, undermined by his austerities, made him less than desirable as a candidate for the religious life, but he was accepted as a lay brother by the Jesuits on January 31, 1571. He underwent novitiate training and was sent to Montesion College on the island of Majorca. There he labored as a hall porter for twenty-four years.

Overlooked by some of the Jesuits in the house, Alphonsus exerted a wondrous influence on many. Not only the young students, such as St. Peter Claver, but local civic and social leaders came to his porter's lodge for advice and direction. Obedience and penance were the hallmarks of his life, as well as his devotion to the Immaculate Conception. He experienced many spiritual consolations, and he wrote religious treatises, very simple in style but sound in doctrine. St. Alphonsus died after a long illness on October 31, 1617, and his funeral was attended by Church and government leaders. He was declared Venerable in 1626, and was named a patron of Majorca in 1633. Alphonsus was beatified in 1825 and canonized in September 1888 with St. Peter Claver.

Collect:

O God, strength of the weak and greatness of the humble, Who didst make Thy servant Alphonsus wonderful by the practice of constant penance and the merit of deep humility, grant that we may mortify our flesh as he did and faithfully carry the cross in the footsteps of Thy Son, and thus attain eternal glory: Who with Thee liveth and reigneth...

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The 6 Missions of Northern California: A Pictorial Guide for Catholics

No trip to California would be complete without a visit to its founding missions (21 in all) that span the West Coast.  And while travelers to Southern California often think to visit the missions that span from around Los Angeles and down to San Diego, fewer travelers seem to think of the Northern California Missions.

This summer I set out to visit the missions of Northern California.   And rather than focus on the historical importance of these missions, their role in the lives of the natives, or their history, I set out to experience the Catholic sentiments from these missions.  My journey was not one done as a historian but one performed as a pilgrim.  I encourage you to visit the California missions and not simply contemplate the souls who passed through the doors but to stop and pray.  Thank God for the missions.  Thank God for giving us the Catholic Faith.  And spend some moments in praying for the conversion of sinners and reparation for sin.

As a final note, all photographs are mine and copyrighted by this blog.  Please feel free to share if you attribute the image appropriately.

Mission San Rafael

If you are coming from San Francisco, this Mission is just a short car ride north after going over the famous Golden Gate Bridge.  The mission is smaller than others and features both the mission church (which was rebuilt after the period of secularism by the Mexican Government and after an earthquake) along with a beautiful new Church.  Unlike some of the other missions, there was no entry fee or museum to tour.  Yet, I still stopped to pray for the souls up in Marin County.

Interestingly, for those unfamiliar with the history of this mission, it was a place for the sick to go since the weather up here is so much sunnier and brighter than down in San Francisco.  May we say a short prayer to Our Lady, Refuge of the Sick, and St. Raphael for the souls of the sick and suffering.

The Old Mission Church.  Inside was a Mass being said in Spanish.

The New Church Building. An English Mass was being said in here.

Inside the Old Mission.

Mission Dolores (San Francisco de Asis)

Where did the city of San Francisco (St. Francis) get its name?  It was from the Mission of San Francisco in what is now known as the "Mission District" of the city.  The mission features the original mission church as well as a new, larger basilica.  Inside the basilica are stained glass windows - one to honor each of the California missions.  The stained glass was enchanting and worth the visit alone.  Spend some time here and praying for the intercession of all of these heavenly patrons for the conversion of so many souls lost in sin in San Francisco and California.

The New Basilica

Lord, have mercy on the poor souls!

Inside the original mission

The stained glass was stunning

Mission San Jose

While a short distance from San Jose, the Mission of San Jose is actually located east of the Bay in the city of Fremont.  The mission entrance is actually in the gift shop and there is a nice museum on the right.  Through the left of the gift shop, visit the actual mission church and the cemetery.

The church is beautiful and inside are some truly amazing relics.  You need to come here and kneel down and thank God for His love and His charity for us.  This is not a mission to skip!

Inside this nail is said to contain filings from a nail of the True Cross of Jesus Christ

 Included in this altar are relics of the Roman martyrs and a nail said to contain within its hollow center filings from a nail of the True Cross of Jesus Christ.

Mission Santa Clara

Of the 21 California Missions, Mission Santa Clara is quite convincingly the most well kept of them all since it is on the campus of Santa Clara University, which is run by the Jesuits.  The mission honors St. Clara and was the first California mission constructed to honor a female saint.

Inside the mission of Santa Clara is the tomb and the story of a remarkably holy man: Father Magín Catalá. In particular, the beautiful Crucifix shown above is the miraculous Crucifix in front of which Father would pray and be seen levitating from the ground by witnesses who have sworn under oath to this miracle's authenticity. Father Catalá lived a heroic life of sanctity. As stated in a pamphlet from the Mission: "[He] fasted every day of the year, tasting nothing until noon and then allowing himself but a little milk and cornbread. He never ate flesh, meat, eggs, or fish."  Join me in the prayer for his canonization.

Mission San Francisco Solano

Mission San Francisco Solano is often forgotten as it was the 21st and the final mission in Alta, California.  It also has the distinction of being the most northern mission (it is located in Sonoma, CA which is north of San Francisco), and it is the only mission to be built after Mexico gained independence from Spain.  This change led to many of the missions being secularized and the atheistic government in Mexico to persecute the Church.

Mission San Carlos Borromeo (Carmel Mission)

Last, but certainly not least, is the true spiritual heart of the Missions: the Carmel Mission.  It is here that the body of St. Junipero Serra rests before the main altar where he is buried.  It is also here at this mission where you can find the Caravaca Cross, the personal reliquary cross of St. Junipero Serra, as well as the oldest European styled state of our Lady brought to Carmel by St. Serra - Our Lady of Bethlehem Statue.

I had the grace to be able to visit this Mission, watch a 15-minute video documentary of St. Serra, pray before his tomb, and tour the museum.  Outside the Mission in the city of Carmel was obscene amounts of wealth - Lamborghini, Bugatti, and other luxury cars were in town for a major international luxury car show.  In contrast, before me rested the body of a poor Franciscan who had no possessions and yet who possesses now in Heaven the beatific vision and eternal bliss.

St. Junipero Serra, pray for us!

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St. Anthony Mary Claret

3rd Class (1962 Calendar): October 23

Today according to the Traditional Calendar of 1962 is the 3rd Class Feast of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop and Confessor.

St. Anthony was born in Sallent, Spain, in 1807. His father was a weaver. He studied to be a Jesuit priest, but was unable to complete his work to be a Jesuit. St. Anthony went on to be ordained as a diocesan priest. Later on he founded Catholic orders dedicated the Blessed Mother, the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary or the Claretians and also the order for Claretian nuns. Between 1850 to 1857, he was the archbishop in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. Later on he returned to Spain and became the confessor in the court of Queen Isabella II. Saint Anthony participated in the First Vatican Council in 1868 and 1870. It was said that he cured many people of their illnesses through the power of Christ. He died in 1870 in exile in France. He also did much to help revive the Catalan language.

St. Anthony Mary Claret had the gift of prophecy and performed many miracles. He was opposed by the liberal forces of Spain and Cuba and endured many trials.

There are 3,100 Claretian missionaries working in sixty-five different countries around the world. Founded in Spain by St Anthony Mary Claret in 1849 as the Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the initials of each member is CMF (Cordis Mariae Filius = “Son of the Heart of Mary”)

St. Anthony Mary Claret was beatified in Rome by Pope Pius XI on February 24, 1934. He was canonized 16 years later by Pope Pius XII on May 7, 1950. Pope John XXIII included him in the General Roman Calendar in 1960 and fixed his feast on October 23. October 23rd is also in some places the Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer.

Prayer:

O God, with the virtues of an apostle Thou didst exalt blessed Anthony Mary, and through him build in Thy Church new religious congregations of men and women; grant, we pray, that led by his counsels and helped by his prayers, we may unremittingly work for the salvation of souls. Through our Lord . . .

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Aymeric of Piacenza: 12th Dominican Master

Continuing my articles on the Masters of the Dominican Order, we now arrive at the 11th Dominican Master: Bernard de Jusix.   For a quick recap of the previous Masters of the Order, please click here.

Aymeric of Piacenza governed the word from 1304 until 1310.  He succeeded Bernard de Jusix who ruled just a few years.  The governance of Aymeric brought more stability to the order compared with the quick turn-over of the Masters before him. 

Aymeric entered the Order of Preachers and soon after arrived in Milan to pursue his studies where, providentially, he formed a close relationship with the man who would later become Pope Benedict XI in 1303.  Aymeric taught philosophy and theology for 24 years before becoming the Provincial of Greece.  In 1304 in Toulouse at the General Chapter, in an act of humility, he renounced his office.  In the response to such an act, he was unanimously chosen as the successor to  Bernard de Jusix as the Master of the Order.

Highlights from his governance of the order included the relegation of studies in areas most affected by the Fraticelli.  The Fraticelli were known as the "Spiritual Franciscans" who were extreme proponents of the rule of Saint Francis of Assisi, especially with regard to poverty; they regarded the wealth of the Church as scandalous and that of individual churchmen as invalidating their status. The Dominicans countered this movement which was declared heretical in 1296 by Pope Boniface VIII.  He also joined Pope Clement IV in 1309 regarding the examination of the Templars.  Shortly there afterward, he resigned his position in 1310 to avoid the displeasure of Clement IV, whose policy Aymeric did not always agree with. He later died on August 19, 1327.

He is reputed to have authored a treatise against the heretics of his era as well as works on dogmatic and scholastic questions.  Let us pray for the repose of the soul of Aymeric of Piacenza and all Dominicans.  

Pater Noster. Ave Maria. Requiem aeternam.

The source of his life comes from (Ed. Reichert, Rome, 1900), which forms the fifth volume of the "Monumenta Hist. Fratr. Praed." (181-202).

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Youth Synod 2018: Spiritual Child Abuse

Guest Post by David Martin

The critics of Pope Francis’ Administration have been vindicated big time! The latest profanation spewing forth from the bowels of Rome clearly demonstrates that the abuse of our Catholic youth is being orchestrated right from Vatican headquarters. This video clip of the pope and bishops rocking out to pelvic-thrusting teenage dancers on stage is quite telling. https://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/4128-rockin-the-scandal-the-synod-on-young-people

This pagan dancing promoted by the Synodal architects can best be described as “spiritual child abuse.” When Church leaders use their rank to advance designs that are sensual and devilish, it scandalizes the young by warping their conception of the Faith.

How can young people ever conceive the Majesty of Christ in his sanctuary when they're being taught by their elders that the Church is a place for sex-oriented fun? This in turn opens the door for abuses of a more ‘tangible’ nature if in fact it doesn't reflect these abuses already occurring among the hierarchy.

What is especially absurd is that several of the gay-sympathizers implicated in Archbishop Vigano’s expose of the sexual abuse and cover-ups—clerics like Archbishop Maradiaga, Cardinal Cupich, Cardinal Parolin and Archbishop Paglia—are participants in this Youth Synod. What are they doing there? Recommending our Catholic youth to them for guidance makes as much sense as trying to put out a fire with gasoline. What next, shall Nazi’s be featured at a Vatican-sponsored pro-life conference?

What is worse is that Instrumentum Laboris, the working document for Youth Synod 2018 explicitly supports homosexual agenda as seen in paragraph 197:

“Some LGBT youth, through various contributions that came to the Secretariat of the Synod, wish to “benefit from a greater closeness” and experience greater care on the part of the Church, while some ECs [Episcopal Conferences] ask what to propose “to young people who instead of forming a heterosexual couple decide to form a homosexual couple and, above all, wish to be close to the Church.”

Consistent with this is the fact that of all the youth chosen to represent Canada in the Youth Synod, Pope Francis chose four members from Salt and Light Media, a pro-gay organization headed by pro-homosexual priest Fr. Thomas Rosica, who is also on the Synod’s Information Commission.

“It is a great sign of affirmation from Pope Francis and the Church’s recognition of Salt and Light’s mission of bringing the flavour of the Gospel and the light of Christ to the world,” wrote Rosica. https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pope-selects-only-fr.-rosicas-salt-light-team-as-canadas-youth-at-synod

The bottom line is that the abuse of our Catholic youth is being fostered by the corrupt teachings and agenda of many in the Catholic hierarchy. Yea, it is being fostered by heretics and homosexuals. That Francis should place this stumbling block before the youth defies logic.
“Woe to the world because of scandals.” (Matt. 18:7)

The transparency and general house-cleaning called for by Archbishop Viganò is long overdue. Kudos to him for his action. May the hierarchy follow his lead and get to work at cleaning house.

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Pope St. Pontian

Next in the continuing series of posts on the History of the Sovereign Pontiffs, after the death of Pope St. Urban I in 230, St. Pontian was elected as the Supreme Pontiff.

Commemoration (1954 Calendar): November 19

Pope St. Pontian reigned as the Vicar of Christ on earth from 230-235. He holds the distinction of being the first pontiff to abdicate - one of only a few popes to have ever resigned the Holy Office.

He devoted much of his reign to upholding the condemnation of the heretical aspects of Origenism and struggled against the schismatic movement which supported the antipope Hippolytus. In 235, Pontian was arrested by Roman officials at the instigation of the persecution of the Church by Emperor Maximinus I Thrax. With Hippolytus, Pontian was exiled to the infamous mines of Sardinia.  In order to make certain that the Church was not deprived of its leadership while he was in exile, St. Pontian stepped down, the first pope ever to do so, so that a new successor could govern the People of God. Both he and Hippolytus both died on Sardinia. Their remains were returned to Rome under Pope St. Fabian.

Interestingly, Hippolytus is also a saint and a source of inspiration for us to pray for the conversion of those in schism.  When St. Callistus was elected pope, St. Hippolytus accused him of being too lenient with penitents and had himself elected antipope by a group of followers. He felt that the Church must be composed of pure souls uncompromisingly separated from the world: St. Hippolytus evidently thought that his group fitted the description. He remained in schism through the reigns of three popes until 235 when he also was banished to the island of Sardinia. Shortly before or after this event, he was reconciled to the Church and died in exile with Pope St. Pontian.

Regarding the heresy of Origenism, which was led by Origen, a Church Father, who despite his piety and great learning in some respect, ultimately fell away from the Truth.  

Thus, we see in the lives of those around St. Pontian the schismatic who is reconciled as well as the Church Father who is lost.  And in St. Pontian we see a man who stayed firm throughout.  It all matters how we end - the state of our soul at death determines our eternal destiny.  So let us pray for the conversion of all and not worry on our past sins which have been forgiven in confession.  Our only goal should be to press ahead to Heaven by staying close to the Church, the Sacraments, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and interior conversion.

St. Pontian, pray for us!

Collect:

We have offered our gifts to You, O Lord. Let Your light graciously shine upon Your Church, so that this flock may everywhere prosper, and its pastors under Your guidance, may be truly pleasing to You. Through our Lord . . .

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3 Traditional Catholic Radio Stations

Magnificat Radio

This station is run by a family who attends the Society of St. Pius X in the Midwest.  They also share very short but helpful reflections on the feastdays of the liturgical year on their Facebook page.  Follow their page to receive them.

Latinritemass.net

Thie channel offers various Traditional Catholic talks.

Sensum Fidelium YouTube Channel

While not a radio station, Sensum Fidelium publishes excellent, traditional sermons nearly daily on YouTube.  Listen to the latest sermons for timely reflections pertinent to a Traditional Catholic.

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Video: The Latin Mass - Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory

Earlier this year I reviewed 6 Latin Mass Locations in the San Francisco / San Jose Bay Area.  One of those Mass locations is the Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory in San Jose.  The above is a new video recently published to promote the Traditional Mass in San Jose, and it is exceptionally well done!  Please watch and share.

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The Souls of the Christian Apostolate

Please check out this new organization and pray for their success: The Souls of the Christian Apostolate

The organization is based on the book Soul of the Apostolate by Dom Chautard. For those looking for a summary of this book, Bishop Robert Vasa offers a summary of the book in audio available here: Bishop Vasa's Audio Sermon of the Soul of the Apostolate

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Feastday of St. John Leonard

SemiDouble (1954 Calendar): October 9

October 9th is the feast of St. John Leonard who was beatified in 1861 and canonized in 1938 by Pope Pius XI. Pope Pius XII extended his feast to the Universal Church in 1940.

From Lives Of The Saints By Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. Edition:

The parable of the Mustard Seed growing into a great tree is verified not only in the life of the Church but often in the work of saintly priests. It is vividly true in the career of the Saint honored today. Born in 1543 in Italy, where he died sixty-six year later, John Leonard was first a pharmacist’s helper in Lucca. It was not until he was twenty-six that he began to study for the priesthood. He was forty at the time of his ordination and for the next twenty-five years he engaged in many apostolic labors.  

The heresies of his day were robbing the young, particularly, of their birthright of the true faith. For them he established a Congregation, the Clerks Regular of the Mother of God. It was, like so many zealous endeavors, threatened with dissolution but was saved by the direct action of the Pope. Burning with great zeal for souls, he wanted to go to the foreign missions but St. Philip Neri, who looked upon him as a real reformer, told him that his mission was to the people of Italy. This vocation at home, however, did not dampen his ardor for the fields afar and, through another priest, he managed to arrange a group to form young men to go as priests to pioneers in the work of the Propagation of the Faith.  

Pope Pius IX beatified St. John Leonard, and he was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1938.  

Reflection. —In our day, many people who in their early youth either felt no attraction to a life of zeal for others or were unable through circumstances to fulfill such a desire come “better late than never” to serve God and neighbor. These are generous souls who go forward despite difficulties. See what the world would have missed had St. John Leonard been discouraged.  

Body of St. John Leonardi (c) A Catholic Life Blog, 2016.

Collect:

O God, You filled the blessed confessor John with a wondrous zeal to spread the faith among pagans, and through him You established in Your Church a new congregation to instruct the faithful. Grand that his teachings may lead us, Your servants, to the reward of eternal life. Through our Lord . . .

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